TOP PLAYERSOL/LB Kendall Cash, Sr.: Cash finished with 79.5 tackles, including three sacks and three tackles for loss. He caused two fumbles and recovered another.RB/LB Tyler Burrell, Jr.: Burrell ran for 203 yards (5 yards per carry) and three touchdowns last season as a backup.K Jimbo Martin, Jr.: Martin was 33 of 37 on extra points and 1 of 2 on field goals.WR/CB Riley Parsons, Sr.: Parsons caught 22 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns (all were team highs). He had 36 tackles and broke up six passes.OL Justin Kirby, Sr.: Kirby was one of the top linemen last season and is one of the leaders this year.LB Antonio Barron, So.: Barron started last season at outside linebacker and finished with 30 tackles, including two for loss.

STRENGTHSQuarterback battle: Having two players — Taylor Pate and Brandon Cannon — fighting for the starting spot will certainly help the Cardinals. Both are good rushers and passers.Speed: The Cardinals have more speed than normal, and that will show in the skill positions. Speed on the 1A level is tough to come by, but also tougher to defend against.Linebackers: With Kendall Cash, Antonio Barron and Adam Pitts returning, the Cardinals have three solid linebackers with experience.

WEAKNESSESYouth: Only six starters return, giving the Cardinals a youthful look this season. There are only seven seniors on the squad, which means a lot of underclassmen will get experience for the next few years.Two-way players: Like many 1A teams, the Cardinals will have a lot of players playing both ways. Eight or more of the starters could be two-way players.Bigger opponents: Of its six non-region games, Landrum plays a 3A school and two 2A schools. Those contests will be tough games against programs with more students to pull athletes from.

The Landrum linebacker would just wave the pack right in his direction.

He’s waited three years for a chance to be the Cardinals’ defensive leader.

That time has finally arrived, and Cash is looking to, well, cash in.

“I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I started playing in ninth grade,” Cash said. “Having everybody look up to me and trying to lead them to victory … I’ve been looking forward to that.”

Cash, a senior, said he started out being more of a lead-by-example player but has developed into more of a vocal one in the past couple years.

“Kendall has a good nose for the ball. He’s a very strong player,” head coach Russell Mahaffey said.

“He’s … quick and good at getting to the football. He’ll be our defensive leader. I’m looking for a lot of leadership out of him.”

Cash will get all he can handle leadership-wise this season as the middle linebacker and veteran voice of a young unit.

“We have a young defense, but they’ve taken up to what we’re doing pretty good,” Cash said.

“So really, it’s not a very hard job on my part. I’ll call the plays and make sure (everyone) lines up where they’re supposed to be.”

Cash (6-2, 215) has been a starter on both sides of the ball since his sophomore year.

He’s played outside and inside linebacker, defensive tackle, special teams and will be a starting guard on offense this season.

“I like being on the field as long as I can be,” Cash said. “When I was younger, it affected me a lot because I wasn’t in real good shape. I love it now. I wouldn’t come off the field now for anything.”

Linebacker is where Cash feels most comfortable, where he belongs.

“I’m not blessed with speed. A lot of people remind me about that everyday,” Cash said.

“I play more with my head. I have some smarts about me. But I’m also a pretty strong guy. I can hold my own against some of the big ones.”

And he “loves to hit.” Cash recorded 79.5 tackles last season and is hoping to get his first career interception this year.

He has ambitions to play at the next level but is not currently being recruited by any schools.

“That’s my goal right now,” Cash said of playing college football.

“I started playing at an early age and found a love for football that I haven’t found for anything else.”

<p>Many football players swat away the responsibilities of leadership like a swarming pack of mosquitoes.</p><p>Not Kendall Cash.</p><p>The Landrum linebacker would just wave the pack right in his direction. </p><p>He’s waited three years for a chance to be the Cardinals’ defensive leader.</p><p>That time has finally arrived, and Cash is looking to, well, cash in.</p><p>I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I started playing in ninth grade, Cash said. Having everybody look up to me and trying to lead them to victory I’ve been looking forward to that.</p><p>Cash, a senior, said he started out being more of a lead-by-example player but has developed into more of a vocal one in the past couple years.</p><p>Kendall has a good nose for the ball. He’s a very strong player, head coach Russell Mahaffey said. </p><p>He’s quick and good at getting to the football. He’ll be our defensive leader. I’m looking for a lot of leadership out of him.</p><p>Cash will get all he can handle leadership-wise this season as the middle linebacker and veteran voice of a young unit.</p><p>We have a young defense, but they’ve taken up to what we’re doing pretty good, Cash said. </p><p>So really, it’s not a very hard job on my part. I’ll call the plays and make sure (everyone) lines up where they’re supposed to be.</p><p>Cash (6-2, 215) has been a starter on both sides of the ball since his sophomore year. </p><p>He’s played outside and inside linebacker, defensive tackle, special teams and will be a starting guard on offense this season.</p><p>I like being on the field as long as I can be, Cash said. When I was younger, it affected me a lot because I wasn’t in real good shape. I love it now. I wouldn’t come off the field now for anything.</p><p>Linebacker is where Cash feels most comfortable, where he belongs.</p><p>I’m not blessed with speed. A lot of people remind me about that everyday, Cash said. </p><p>I play more with my head. I have some smarts about me. But I’m also a pretty strong guy. I can hold my own against some of the big ones.</p><p>And he loves to hit. Cash recorded 79.5 tackles last season and is hoping to get his first career interception this year. </p><p>He has ambitions to play at the next level but is not currently being recruited by any schools.</p><p>That’s my goal right now, Cash said of playing college football. </p><p>I started playing at an early age and found a love for football that I haven’t found for anything else.</p>